Anthony Bourdain Smells Something Funny in the Azores

After Anthony Bourdian's rather bland exploration of Washington, DC, we were glad to hear his next No Reservations stop was a little crazier: The Azores, an archipelago of Portuguese islands set 900 miles off the European coast in the remote Atlantic Ocean. Now that's more like it. It's pretty crazy that this place even exists, let alone that people can easily get to it.

Bourdain got interested in the Azores during his early days working in kitchens across Cape Cod, where apparently, tons of Azorean people live. Who knew? Guess that explains why they've got those direct Boston-Azores flights. It all makes sense now.

But while we were expecting a remote volcanic wonderland, Bourdian makes the Azores look, well, just not as out there as we were hoping. Sure, some of the scenery is amazing, but they drink gin and tonics, eat sausage, and remark how much it's just like America! Not to be selfish, but when we travel that far we're looking for a place that's a little less American. To be fair, the boiling geyser on San Miguel Island sounded pretty far out, but then Bourdain described its smell as reminiscent of "nibbling egg salad out of one of Hulk Hogan's used Speedos."

Well our appetite's gone, but we're still wondering exactly what the Azores are all about. Remote middle-of-nowhere paradise or little piece of America in the Atlantic?
Anyone been? Worth the $800 ticket from Boston? Let us know in comments below.

Archived Comments:

Azores

I have been to the Azores and it is a paradise in the Middle of the Atlantic. If you visit more then an island, take the ferry instead of a plane. The ocean ride is just amazing and the ocean out there is beautiful.
Sao Miguel is not just like America or for that matter any part of teh Azores. We went mountain hiking and to the beach in 1 day. Take off on your own on some back roads and you feel like your in a rain forest.
The Lake inside the island of S. Miguel was truely a sight to see. On the day we were there one lake was green and the other blue. If your a golfer they have a great golf course.
Did I mention the beer is cheaper then soda? I imagine that Hawaii would look like this if it wasn't so developed.